Food waste disposer



June 4, 1957 R. H. 'TULL FOOD WASTE DISPOSER 2 Speets-Sheet 1 ON POSITION Filed May 23, 1952 ON POSITION u m4 R u Y .mT W EH R W m 9 IR N E A B W O Y B June 4, 1957 R. H. TULL FOOD WASTE DISPOSER 2 She ets-Sheet 2 SEAL posmou Filed May 2 3 1952 SEAL POSITION.

SEAL POSITION ON POSITION RUBBER STOP-PER F I G. I 2

INVENTOR ROBERT H. TULL ATTORNEY trite 2,794,602 FOOD WASTE DISPOSER Application May 23, 1952, Serial No. 289,453 6 Claims. (Cl. 241-325) My invention relates to a food waste disposer, particularly to a closure therefor which ac'tuates a switch for operating the disposer only when the closure is in its On position, in which it permits flow of water into the disposer but presents substantial obstruction to access to the interior of the disposer by the user.

An object of the invention is to provide an closure of the character set forth.

A further object is to provide a closure which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object is to provide a closure having an opening that permits continuous feeding of material into the disposer during operation thereof but which provides such substantial obstruction to access to the interior of the disposer as to minimize the danger of personal inury. J In accordance with my invention, I provide a closure comprising a main or ring member having an opening therein and further including a stopper for closing such opening. The ring member must be positioned in the access opening to the disposer to effect operation thereof and, to this end, is provided with a projection for closing a switch when the ring member is positioned. The opening in the ring is of a size to permit continuous feeding of material to be disposed of but small enough to provide sufiicient obstruction to access that the risk of personal injury is minimized.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view, with parts in section, showing a food waste disposer suspended from a sink and provided with my novel. closure;

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the closure and the adapter ring, the closure being in the On position and the stopper being in the raised position to permit continuous feeding;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the adapter ring and the closure in the Remove position; 7

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the switch operating mechanism as seen from the left in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, taken on the line V-V of Fig. 2, through the upper portion of the disposer, showing the closure in the On position and the stopper in the raised position;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 8, showing the closure in the Seal position;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view showing one-half of the adapter ring and showing the closure in the Seal position;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line VIII-- V111 of Fig. 6, showing the closure in the Seal position;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the closure removed from the disposer, with the stopper shown in the closed position;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section showing the closure in the improved tates Patent 2 On position and the stopper in the lower open posi-' tion;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the stopper, showing an extension of the adapter ring in section and showing the closure in the On or operating position;

Fig. 12 is a detail view, partly in section, on the line XII'X[I of Fig. 8; v V

Fig. 13 is a vertical section of a modified form of my novel closure; and

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the ring member of the modified closure shown in Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I show, in Fig. l, a food waste disposer suspended from a sink 10. The disposer may be of any suitable construction and, in the illustrated embodiment, includes a casing 11 and a flywheel 12 rotated about a vertical by a motor 13. The flywheel 12 carries a pivoted impeller 14 cooperating with an annular shredding element 15, for commuting garb age or other material.

The casing 11 is connected to the sink 10 by means of an adapter ring 16, which provides an access or top opening for the casing. The latter includes a tubular portion extending through an opening in the sink 10 and a flange 17 resting on the marginal portion of the sink surrounding the opening.

The casing 11 is attached to and supported by the adapter ring 16, the casing being provided with a flange 18 which is bolted to a supporting ring 19. The latter rests on a split or sectioned retaining ring 21 extending into an annular groove in the ring 16. A gasket 22 is preferably provided as shown in Fig. 5. assembly is described more fully and claimed in Patent No. 2,555,583 of 'C. H. Ewing.

The closure of the present invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 23, comprises a main or ring member 24 having an opening 25 therein, a stopper 26 for closing the opening 25, and a link 27 pivotally connected at 28 to two lugs 29 of the ring 24 and to the stopper 26 at 30 to provide an assembled unit. The stopper 26 is provided with a handle 31, which may be integral therewith and which also serves as a handle for the closure as a whole.

The flange 17 is provided with the legends Remove, Seal and On arranged, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the legend to which the handle 31 points designates the position of the closure.

The ring 24 comprises an upper flange 32 which seats upon an inclined or conical seat 33 formed on the inside of the adapter ring 16 adjacent the lower end thereof, a tubular portion 34 extending downwardly from the inner periphery of the flange 32, and a lower flange 35 proectmg outwardlly from the lower end of the tubular portion 34. The adapter ring 16 is provided with two 'chordal or Wing-like extensions 36' disposed below the seat 33 and having straight edges 37 which are substan tr'ally tangent to the outer surface of the tubular portron 34. The lower flange 35 is cut away on opposite sides IO provide straight edges 38 which are substantially complementary to and which are adapted to fit within the edges 37 of the extensions 36 when the closure is rotated to bring the edges 37 and 38 into alignment, in which position the flange 35 may be withdrawn or inserted through the opening between the extensions 36 to remove or position the ring 24. This is the Remove position.

The tubular portion 34 of the ring 24 has an outer circular surface that fits between the edges 37 of the extensions 36 but it is provided with a projection 39, so that the ring 24 is capable of rotary movement until the projection 39 strikes one of the edges 37.

The ring 24 is further provided, on the lower side of the flange 35, with two diametrically opposite projections 40 providing cam surfaces 41 for engaging and actuating a switch lever 42. The latter is mounted on a rotary shaft 43 extending through the wall of the casing and having an arm 44 adapted to operate a switch 45 which controls the energization of the motor 13. The switch 45 is normally biased to the Open position and is closed only when one of the earns 41 depresses the lever 42.

The lever 27 is formed with an extension 46. a This extension is so formed and the pivot 28 is so located in relation to the circumference of the ring 24 that, when the closure is in the On position, the extension 46 abuts one of the extensions 36, thereby holding the link27 in tilted position, as shown in Fig. 10, thereby holding the stopper 26 in elevated position to permit flow of water. The stopper 26 is provided on its lower side with a projection 47, the sides of which fit closely the sides of a slot 48 in the link 27, for the purpose of transmitting force to the link when the handle 31 is used to rotate the closure, thereby to prevent straining the pivot pin 30. A spring clip 49 riveted to the link 27 frictionally engages a projection 50 on the lower side of the stopper 26 for the purpose of resiliently holding the stopper and the ring 24 together when the stopper is in closed position, as in Figs. 8 and 9.

OPERATION When the closure 23 is removed from the top opening provided by the adapter ring 16, the stopper 26 is preferably in closed position against the ring 24, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the stopper and the ring being held together by the frictional engagement of the clip 49 with the projection 59. The closure may be inserted in the adapter ring in either one of the two diametrically opposite positions in which the handle points to the word Remove. In this position, the two flat or chordal edges 38 of the flange 35 register with the edges 37, to permit the insertion of the flange 35 and the tubular portion 34 within the opening between the edges 37. From this position, the closure may be rotated clockwise to the Seal position, in which the handle points to the word Seal. During this movement, portions of the flange 35 move below the extensions 36, so that the closure cannot be removed. In both the Remove and the Seal position, the stopper 26 may be in the position in which it closes the opening in the ring 24, as shown in, Figs. 8 and 9, or it may be in a slightly open position, the stopper being held in such slightly raised position by the projection 50 resting on the clip 49, in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 10. From this position, the stopper can readily be depressed to closed position, the projection 50 'forcing apart the fingers of the clip 49.

Neither of the cam projections 4t) engages the lever 42 in the Remove and Seal positoins.

To start operation of the disposer, the closure is rotated clockwise to the On position in which the handle is in alignment with the word On. To rotate it to this position, it is necessary to raise the stopper 26 from the closed position, as otherwise the extension 46 strikes one of the edges 37 to prevent such rotation. The extension 46 passes under the adjacent extension 35 and abuts the lower surface thereof, as shown in Fig. 10, thereby tilting the lever 27 to retain the stopper 26 in a position in which the opening in the ring 24 is at least partly open.

The stopper 26 may, however, be raised to a position above the adapter ring 316, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby providing maximum access through the opening 25. In this position of the closure, one of the projections 40 engages the lever 42 to close the switch 45 for operation of the disposer. During such operation, the opening 25 permits continuous feeding of food waste or other material to be disposed of. The opening 25 is sufliciently small, however, to provide substantial obstruction to .the insertion of a hand therethrough, thereby minimizing the risk of injury to a person. In order to permit continuous feeding of food waste or other material at a sufficient rate to be practicable, the opening should have a diameter of at least 1 /2 inches or an area of at least 1% square inches.

7 On the other hand, in order to provide suliicient obstruction to the insertion of a hand through the opening, the diameter should not be more than 2 /2 inches. 1 consider that a diameter of 2 inches provides, on the whole, about the most suitable size of opening.

Figs. 13 and 14 a provision, such as the lugs 29, for pivoting a link 27 thereto and that it is provided with two projections 52 whereby it may be rotated. The ring member 24' comprises an upper flange 32, a tubular portion 34 having a projection 39, a lower flange 35 having straight edges 38 on opposite sides, and projections 40 having cam surfaces 41, as in the first embodiment. It also has an opening 25 having a diameter of 2 inches, as in thefirst embodiment.

The closure 23', except for the difierences mentioned above, may be identical with the corresponding parts of the closure 23. It is adapted, therefore, to be employed in the disposer 11 interchangeably with the closure 23.

Figs. 13 and 14.Operzzti0n The closure 23' is inserted in the adapter in the same manner as in the first embodiment; namely, by turning the closure until the projections 52 are in alignment with the word Remove, in which position the edges 38 of the flange 35 register with the edges 37 of the extensions 36, whereupon the flange and the tubular portion 34 may be inserted within the opening between the edges 37.

' The closure may then be rotated clockwise to the Seal position, in which the switch 45 is not closed, and the projections 52 are in alignment with the word Seal. The opening 25 in the ring member 24' may be closed by the rubber stopper 51, to hold water in the sink, as for washing dishes.

To energize the motor for operating the comminuting means, the rubber stopper is removed and the ring member 24' is rotated clockwise to the On position, in which the projections 52 are in alignment with the word On and the switch 45 is closed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

Thus, the operation of the closure 23 is substantially the same as that of the closure 23 of the first embodiment, except that the ring member is rotated directly by means of the projections 52 instead of the handle on the stopper, and there is no interlock to prevent energizing the motor while the stopper is in closed position.

'While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a waste disposal unit, the combination of a casing having an opening adjacent the top for feeding material to be comminuted and having a seat around said opening for receiving a closure, means for 'comminuting material of the casing tominimize risk of personal injury, said ring member having a cam surface, and means including a member actuated by said cam surface when said ring 7 member is rotated while seated against said seat for controlling energization of said motor and operating to prevent energization except when said member is engaged by said cam surface.

2. A waste disposal unit as set forth in claim 1 and further including a stopper for closing the opening in said ring member.

3. Aclosure for a food waste disposer comprising a ring member having a tubular portion, spaced upper and lower flanges extending radially outwardly from said tubular portion, said upper flange having a seating surface disposed radially outwardly of said lower flange, and the outer periphery of said lower flange being non-circular whereby the closure may be locked against removal upon rotation thereof, and a cam surface on said lower flange for actuating a switch operating member upon rotation of the closure; a stopper for closing the opening in the ring member; and a link pivoted to said ring member and to said stopper for connecting the same, said link permitting movement of the stopper between closed position and open positions and being disposed substantially parallel to the plane of said flanges when the stopper is in closed position, and said stopper having a handle attached thereto which serves both as a handle for moving the stopper relative to the ring member and which is also adapted to serve as a handle for the closure as a whole.

4. A closure for a food waste disposer comprising a ring member having a tubular portion, spaced upper and lower flanges extending radially outwardly from said tubular portion, and a cam surface on said lower flange; a stopper for closing the opening in the ring member; and a link pivoted to said ring member and to said stopper for connecting them, said link having an extension extending beyond the pivotal connection with the ring membet and into the space between said upper and lower flanges when said stopper is positioned against said ring member to close the opening therein, the extension on said link being moved out of said space upon movement of said stopper to open position.

5. In a food waste disposer, the combination of a casing having an opening adjacent the top for feeding material to be comminuted and having a seat around said opening for receiving a closure, means for comminuting material in said casing, a motor for driving said comminuting means, a closure for said opening, said closure comprising a ring member adapted to engage said seat and having a circular opening therein, a stopper for closing said circular opening, a link pivoted to said ring member and to said stopper for connecting them, said link permitting movement of said stopper toward and away from the position in which it closes said circular opening, said ring member having a cam surface, and means including a member actuated by said cam surface when said ring member is rotated while engaging said seat for controlling energization of said motor, said means preventing energization of said motor except when said member is engaged by said cam surface and said ring member is rotated to a predetermined position, said casing and said link having cooperating projections, the projection on said link being moved, upon movement of the stopper to closed position, to a path of movement in which it abuts the projection on the casing upon rotation of the ring member toward but before it reaches said predetermined position in order to prevent energization of said motor, and said projection on said link being moved, upon movement of said stopper to open position, to a path of movement in which it does not abut said projection on the casing upon rotation of the ring member to said predetermined position, whereby said stopper must be raised to an open position to permit water flow through the opening in the ring member during energization of the motor.

6. In a food waste disposer, the combination of a casing having an opening adjacent the top for feeding material to be comminuted and having a seat around said opening for receiving a closure, means for comminuting material in said casing, a motor for driving said comminuting means, a closure for said opening, said closure comprising a ring member including a tubular portion, spaced upper and lower flanges extending radially outwardly from said tubular portion, and a cam surface on said lower flange, said upper flange having a seating surface adapted to engage the seat in said casing, said casing having a projection extending radially inwardly into the space between said upper and lower flanges when said upper flange engages said seat, said lower flange having a cutaway portion to pass said projection upon inserting the closure, said closure further comprising a stopper for closing the opening in the ring member, and a link pivoted to said ring member and to said stopper for connecting them, said link permitting movement of the stopper between closed and open positions, means including a member actuated by said cam surface when the ring member is rotated while engaging said seat for controlling energization of said motor, said means preventing energization of said motor except when said member is engaged by said cam surface and said ring member is rotated to a predetermined position, and said link having an extension which is moved into the space between said upper and lower flanges when the stopper is in closed position, and abuts the projection on the casing to prevent rotation of the ring member to said predetermined position and which is moved out of said space upon movement of said stopper to open position to permit rotation of the ring member to said predetermined position, whereby said stopper must be moved to open position to permit water flow through the opening in the ring member during energization of said motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 219,712 Gilbert Sept. 16, 1879 1,807,574 Johnston May 26, 1931 2,244,402 Powers June 3, 1941 2,348,093 Pasman May 2, 1944 

